UEFA Champions League 2017/18: Best XI of the quarter-finals

Defence

Right back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

TAA kept Leroy Sane under check

Before the first leg, Arnold was considered Liverpool's weakest link going into their clash against Manchester City. A duel against Leroy Sane beckoned the young fullback who had not been in the best of form in the past month or so.

But what followed was truly amazing. Arnold not only dominated Sane in both the legs, but he was arguably Liverpool's best player. He never gave Sane the chance to go past him and stood strong in both the legs.

Arnold made 13 interceptions and 7 tackles, the highest for any Liverpool player. Despite getting a booking in the first half of the second leg, Jurgen Klopp trusted the fullback to continue. TAA has well and truly arrived!

Centre-back: Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich)

Mats Hummels marshalled his troops well

Without Manuel Neuer, the onus on building the play from the back fell on Mats Hummels. He is a brilliant ball-playing defender and that was on show in both the legs against Sevilla. Bayern Munich used diagonal balls to switch flanks against Sevilla and Hummels was an integral part of this strategy.

In the first leg, Hummels had a passing accuracy of 84% which included 3 accurate long balls. In the second leg, it was 83% with 5 accurate cross-field balls. The German defender was also solid in the air, made crucial interceptions against Sevilla's strikers and marshalled his troops successfully into the final four.

Centre back: Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)

Virgil Van Dijk was colossal against City

The Dutchman has become an important cog in Liverpool's defence and has made them a dependable and resilient unit. Van Dijk was effective in both the legs against Manchester City and was a big reason why City could attempt just 3 shots on target in 180 minutes.

He dominated in the air, won 7/7 duels in the first leg and also helped in recycling the ball with conviction. When the going got tough in the second leg, it was Van Dijk who helped calm the nerves for Liverpool as he made 11 clearances and also won 6 aerial duels.

Left-back: Marcelo (Real Madrid)

Marcelo scored the crucial third goal for Real Madrid

The Brazilian fullback once again displayed his attacking abilities in the first leg against Juventus. He scored the crucial third goal for Real Madrid in Turin and was a constant threat to the Bianconeri on the left flank.

Yesterday, Marcelo was not at his best defensively in the first half, giving far too much space for the Juventus players to cross from his wing. But he improved as the game went on and proved to be useful going forward in the second interval.